Bhubaneswar: The Centre on Tuesday asked the Odisha government to use cold mix technology for construction of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), preferably in IAP (integrated action plan) covered districts.
In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh said that as per the Guidelines on Technology Initiative under PMGSY issued by the ministry and the National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA), the cold mix technology is cost-effective and can be used as an alternative to hot mix bituminous surface in the construction of PMGSY roads.
"In the cold mix technology, waste plastic modified bitumen, cold mix, etc and marginal materials like fly-ash are used for construction of roads that is cheaper in comparison to hot mix bituminous surface technology in the construction of PMGSY roads," he said, adding, that the new technology can be used round the clock.
Considering the benefits of the new technology, he asked the chief minister to direct the state rural road development agency to use the technology, particularly in the districts covered under Integrated Action Plan (IAP), in the upcoming PMGSY proposals.
Ramesh also said that the state can also change the scope of work from hot mix surfacing to cold mix surfacing under PMGSY guidelines with prior approval either from the ministry or the NRRDA with a focus on timely completion of already sanctioned works in the IAP districts.
"I hope you would provide leadership and support for faster completion of PMGSY works in IAP areas, using the new environment friendly technology that has been classified as environment friendly green technology," Ramesh said in his letter.